Rams keen to clinch Bent deal

Bent was due for talks with Rams head coach Steve McClaren on Friday, ahead of a proposed loan deal until the end of the season.

Out of favour at Villa Park four years after arriving from Sunderland in a club record £24million deal, Bent has only recently returned to the midlands from a loan spell with Derby’s Sky Bet Championship rivals Brighton.

The 30-year-old scored two goals in five matches for the Seagulls and stated he was open to remaining at the AMEX Stadium. However, it is thought the prospect of joining a club who are serious contenders for promotion to the Barclays Premier League is more appealing.

Derby, third in the Championship table, hope Bent will make his Rams debut against Ipswich on January 10.

Bent, who has 13 England caps, has made eight appearances for Villa this season – seven of them as a substitute.

He has scored 25 goals in 72 games since moving to Villa Park in January 2011, but he has regularly been overlooked by current manager Paul Lambert and spent last season on loan at Fulham.

It is understood Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace, having lined up Alan Pardew as their new manager, have also expressed an interest in signing Bent in recent days.